Mitch Friedman, Rachel Hergett, John Klicker, Jess Olson, Benjamin Alva Polley
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIEFS OBITUARY
ON THE COVER:
The Big Sky Biggie enjoyed another successful year, with hundreds of riders smiling as they pedaled toward the finish. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
EDITORIAL POLICIES
EDITORIAL POLICY
Outlaw Partners, LLC is the sole owner of Explore Big Sky. EBS reserves the right to edit all submitted material. Printed material reflects the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the opinion of Outlaw Partners or its editors. EBS will not publish anything discriminatory or in bad taste.
EBS welcomes obituaries written by family members or from funeral homes. To place an obituary, please submit 500 words or less to media@theoutlawpartners.com.
191/64 INTERSECTION MISSES OUT ON FEDERAL GRANT
The effort to improve Big Sky’s often congested entry point will continue to seek significant funding, as the project was not awarded a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s BUILD grant program. The design process will continue, however.
NEW CHILD CARE FACILITY OPENS IN BIG SKY
Gallatin River Child Care announced its expansion from employer-supported child care in Gallatin Gateway to a public facility in Big Sky for kids aged six weeks to three years.
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
If August days got you down, a gallery of local dogs will surely put a September smile on your face.
STATE OFFICIALS DISCUSS BIG SKY PROPERTY TAXES
On Aug. 19, Montana Department of Revenue Director Brendan Beatty spoke with Big Sky residents about property taxes, amid a frustrating year with new tax policy enacted by state legislators. While the situation can be confusing, moderator John Zirkle was pleased by the attendance and public engagement.
BIG SKY BIGGIE DONATES TO LOCAL TRAIL EFFORTS
On Aug. 23, hundreds of bikers completed 15-, 30- and 50-mile journeys for the seventh annual Big Sky Biggie. The community race celebrates riding bikes on unique Big Sky terrain, some portions including private land otherwise inaccessible to the public.
GLOBAL FOOD MARKET OPENS IN BIG SKY
Kyle Anderson recently opened the new Big Sky Global Market next to the Country Market in the Big Sky Meadow Village. Food columnist Rachel Hergett paid him a visit and gives her take.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters to the editor allow EBS readers to express views and share how they would like to effect change. These are not Thank You notes. Letters should be 250 words or less, respectful, ethical, accurate, and proofread for grammar and content. We reserve the right to edit letters and will not publish individual grievances about specific businesses or letters that are abusive, malicious or potentially libelous. Include: full name, address, phone number and title. Submit to media@outlaw.partners.
ADVERTISING DEADLINE For the Sept. 18th issue: Sept. 12th , 2025
CORRECTIONS Please report errors to media@outlaw.partners.
With spectators gone after the Tuesday, Aug. 19 rodeo at Lone Mountain Ranch, cowboys take in the sunset.
PHOTO BY LESLIE KILGORE
BRIEFS
NEWS IN BRIEF
OFFROAD ROLLOVER PROMPTS BUCK RIDGE RESCUE
EBS STAFF
On Aug. 31 just before noon, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue responded to a report of an offroad vehicle rollover along Buck Ridge Trail south of Big Sky. The driver of the offroad vehicle received initial first aid from bystanders until search and rescue arrived on scene. The patient was then transported on a side-by-side to the trailhead and transferred to a Big Sky Fire Department ambulance for medical care.
Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer reminds ATV riders to wear proper safety gear such as a helmet, and to know the trail and their limitations. He also commended “the bystanders for their swift actions, which ensured that Search and Rescue teams were able to locate, stabilize and package the patient quickly.”
LPHS EARNS TOP MONTANA RANKING BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
EBS STAFF
Lone Peak High School was ranked Montana’s No. 2 overall high school for the 2025-26 school year in a new list published by U.S. News and World Report, based on methodology with six factors: proficiency in math and science, and reading; performance in math and science, and reading; college readiness; performance of underserved students; college curriculum breadth; and graduation rates.
Bozeman High School earned the top overall Montana rank among 171 schools, followed by LPHS, Whitefish High School, and Gallatin High School in Bozeman.
na’s No. 1 rank for college curriculum breadth, and No. 2 rank for college readiness. Nationally, LPHS is No. 943 overall among nearly 18,000 U.S. high schools ranked, placing it just outside the top 5% based on factors considered by U.S. News and World Report.
“This distinction celebrates our 4K-12 dedicated staff, the vision set by our school board, and the support of our community, all working together to make sure our students thrive and succeed,” stated Dr. Dustin Shipman, Big Sky School District superintendent, in an Aug. 27 press release.
The school received similar rankings in 2023, but was unranked in 2024 possibly due to insufficient data, according to BSSD administrators.
The release emphasized BSSD’s mission: “to cultivate each student’s potential; engage in globally minded education and experiential learning in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem; and empower students to lead lives of impact, resilience, and authenticity.”
NEW REAL ESTATE AGENCY OPENS IN BIG SKY WITH FAMILIAR FACES AT THE HELM
EBS STAFF
Aperture Global Real Estate, a national luxury real estate firm, is putting down roots in Big Sky with a staff including some of the community’s local agents.
Led by longtime Big Sky broker Martha Johnson, the new office brings together a team that includes Matt Zaremba and Allen Potts of the Zaremba Potts Group, Suzanne and Mazie Schreiner and Scott Altman. Together, they closed over half a billion dollars in real estate in 2024, according to an Aperture Global press release.
While the company launched in May 2025 with a global footprint including 17 U.S. states and four international cities, its Big Sky office is focused on local values: stewardship, family and a deep respect for the land, according to the release.
“This isn’t just a market, it’s home,” Martha Johnson stated in the release. “People come to Montana for the space, the stillness, and the strength of the community. Robert Palmer and the team at Aperture understand that. This isn’t simply a brokerage, it’s a platform to reach people who care about where and how they live.”
Michael Valdes, Aperture Global president and LPT International CEO, added that the expansion to Big Sky is about celebrating the people who live, work and raise their children in the area.
“Montana is not just a destination. It’s a lifestyle... We’re proud to grow with the Big Sky community,” Valdes stated in the release.
MOUNTAIN MUTT MANIA TO HELP FUND NEW VETERINARY HOSPITAL
EBS STAFF
The fourth annual Mountain Mutt Mania fundraiser will support Riley’s Urgent Fund for Friends (RUFF), a local animal support nonprofit. Proceeds will benefit the Big Sky Animal Shelter, which will be included in the new Lone Peak Veterinary Hospital facility, now under construction.
The free event will take place Sunday, Sept. 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Len Hill Park. Activities include an egg hunt with prizes, music from The Bo Show, carnival games, local food trucks from Yoder Cheesesteaks and Rancho Picante, desserts, drinks and a silent auction to raise money for the animal shelter. The theme is “my animal is my superhero.”
Big Sky RUFF has raised $1.15 million, with only $150,000 remaining to meet its $1.3 million goal to fund the new animal shelter, according to Dr. Stephanie “Syd” Desmarais of LPVH and RUFF.
The event will have a silent auction online starting Sept. 1.
Johnny Lynn Caton, "Cheryl K10" was born in Mesa, Arizona on March 26, 1955 and passed away in Big Sky Montana on Aug. 6, 2025.
Cheryl spent her early years in Arizona with John and Lavonne Caton along with Howard and Lil' John. Cheryl attended school in Mesa, Arizona and
Columbus, Montana. After graduation she settled in Billings. She worked various jobs in Billings until she found her place in the mid '80s, Big Sky.
Cheryl made her home in Big Sky, Montana. She worked many years at the Corral Bar and was awarded bartender of the year. Cheryl also worked as a manager of the Exxon until her death.
Cheryl made many friends throughout her life. She traveled with friends, floated the river, skied, played golf and so much more. Where Cheryl went, fun and chaos followed.
Cheryl leaves behind her mother Shirley, brother Scott (Denise), and sister Vicki. Nieces Leighia, Katie, Samantha and Jessie. Nephews Todd, David and Michael. Great nieces Chevelle, Penelope, Lizzy and Annie. Great nephews Broddie, Odin and Marshall. Cheryl also leaves behind numerous friends and her last best dog Smudge.
A memorial service will be Sept. 27 at 3 p.m. at the Riverhouse BBQ & Events in Big Sky.
In lieu of flowers, an account at First Security bank of Big Sky, "Cheryl Caton Memorial" has been set up to help with funeral and medical costs. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at dahlcares.com
NOW HIRING: WATER & SEWER OPERATOR
Big Sky County Water & Sewer District 363 is seeking a full-time Collection & Distribution Operator to join our team. This position plays a vital role in maintaining the community’s water distribution and sewer collection systems.
Position Highlights:
• Full-time, non-exempt position with excellent benefits & competitive pay
• Work includes operation, inspection, repair, and maintenance of pipelines, pumps, valves, and related infrastructure
• Use of SCADA and GIS systems, heavy equipment, and tools
• Participation in emergency on-call rotation required
• May need to work extended shifts due to emergencies that could include holidays and weekends
Ideal Candidate:
• 1–5 years of experience in water/sewer utility operations or related trades, no experience, no problem we will train the right person.
• Valid Montana driver’s license
• Certifications in water distribution/treatment or wastewater preferred—or ability to obtain within 2 years
• Strong safety awareness, communication skills, and teamwork
• Work involves physical labor in outdoor and confined space environments, often in extreme weather.
• Join a skilled, supportive team working to ensure safe and reliable water and sewer service for our community.
To learn more, visit: bigskywatersewer.com. Questions or to apply? Email: office@wsd363.com
JOHNNY “CHERYL K10”
Experience: 20 years.
Favorite River: Madison.
Favorite Species: Close tie between Brown Trout and Brooke Trout. I love both because they are aggressive, fight hard, and are gorgeous.
Largest catch on the Fly: 35 inch Northern Pike on the fly a couple summers ago!
Largest trout on the fly was a 25 inch rainbow on a dry fly.
Importance of Clean. Drain. Dry.: Professionals and non-profits work exceedingly hard to maintain the health of every water system in the state of Montana. We can undo all that in one careless instant. By cleaning our boats, waders, boots, and gear, we can prevent the spread of invasive species from one body of water to another. We have to do our part, particularly with so many more people coming to enjoy our rivers.
LOCAL
BIG SKY RESORT ANNOUNCES ‘GLASS SUMMIT EXPERIENCE’ WILL BE READY FOR WINTER
LONE PEAK TRAM ATTRACTION NAMED ‘KIRCLIFF’ FOR KIRCHER FAMILY’S LEADERSHIP
EBS STAFF
BIG SKY—As Big Sky Resort continues construction on its Explorer Gondola, another summer project has been the summit experience of the Lone Peak Tram—soon to operate for its third winter season—highlighted by a new alpine observatory.
The “glass summit experience” will be “unlike anything else in the American West,” according to an Aug. 25 press release from Big Sky Resort, announcing the name of the project as “Kircliff” as a nod to the decades of “pioneering innovation” from the Kircher family. “Cantilevered off the mountain’s edge, this architectural marvel creates a place where the immensity of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem can be experienced in jawdropping spectacle.”
The Explorer Gondola will provide access from the base area to the base of the tram, eventually making Kircliff an ADA-accessible experience that does not require skis or hiking boots—the experience will be fully ADA-accessible in the summer, with further construction planned between the gondola and tram terminals to enable winter accessibility in the future.
“This reimagined summit experience transforms Lone Peak into a year-round, must-visit destination,” resort President and COO Troy Nedved stated in the release. “Kircliff unlocks the opportunity for every guest to stand on one of the highest peaks in the region and witness a horizon that stretches from Yellowstone to the Tetons.”
The release added that the Explorer Gondola will be the world’s fastest 10-person gondola, including
heated seats, floor-to-ceiling windows and a midstation to access beginner terrain near the top of the resort’s original Explorer chairlift.
The resort will open in fewer than 100 days, on Nov. 26, and Kircliff and the Explorer Gondola are scheduled to open Dec. 20, according to the release.
SCAN
RENDERING COURTESY OF BIG SKY RESORT
USDOT REJECTS $25M GRANT REQUEST FOR 191/64 INTERSECTION
DESIGN
PROCESS WILL CONTINUE; SIGNIFICANT FUNDING NEEDED FOR EVENTUAL CONSTRUCTION
BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY—The effort to improve Big Sky’s often congested entry point will continue to seek significant funding, as the project was not awarded a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) grant program.
The project seeks to improve traffic flow and decrease congestion at the intersection of U.S. Highway 191 and Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail), with early discussions and designs suggesting a roundabout as the potential solution.
Despite missing out on the federal grant, MDT still has funding set aside for the preliminary design phase. Engineering firm HDR will continue its progress toward final project design, beginning this fall with information from an intersection control evaluation report, according to an email from HDR project representative Josh Springer. The report will be completed in early September.
The $25 million will be needed for the project’s construction phase, now facing an uncertain timeline.
The Big Sky Resort Area District contributed to the project including the $10.45 million acquisition of necessary land in 2024, and Executive Director Daniel Bierschwale said BSRAD will continue working with MDT to figure out next steps for funding. That may require waiting a year until the next annual BUILD grant cycle.
MDT regional engineer Brandon Jones said the 191/64 project made it to the final round of BUILD grant review before being denied.
“We’ll certainly apply for the BUILD grant again... It scored highly compared to the grants that were awarded, so I think it’s a good path to re-apply,” Jones said. Furthermore, he expects that USDOT will have a large surplus of funding near $1 billion in the 2026 cycle—slightly more than double the $488 million awarded this year. “We should be competitive in that.”
Bierschwale added that Montana Highway 64’s status as an "auxiliary route" makes it “particularly difficult” to seek state dollars from the Montana Department of Transportation, although the intersection with U.S. 191 makes the project eligible for federal funds.
BSRAD will continue prioritizing traffic congestion and safety in the community and working with elected representatives and state officials to explore funding opportunities for traffic-related projects. In the meantime, BSRAD is exploring ways to make use of the 191/64 corner parcel after investing public funds to acquire it in 2024. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office may temporarily move its Big Sky office to an existing building onsite, Bierschwale suggested.
Regardless of federal funding, Jones said MDT will likely still execute the project, although it may take five years or more to get started. “The BUILD grant would expedite our time frame significantly.”
PRESENTED BY & BENEFITTING:
Join us for an unforgettable night blending military tradition with casual elegance at the inaugural Salute to Service. This one-of-a-kind event features gourmet cuisine, powerful tributes, and USOstyle entertainment in support of our nation’s veterans.
NOV | 14 | 2025
THE ELM, BOZEMAN, MT
Near the Conoco gas station, the 191/64 intersection is viewed as the common entry junction to Big Sky.
PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
NEW BIG SKY CHILD CARE PROVIDER OFFERS 24 SPOTS STARTING SEPTEMBER
GALLATIN RIVER CHILD CARE EXPANDS FROM GALLATIN GATEWAY TO BIG SKY; NEW
RESOURCE SUPPORTED BY LMLC, YCCF PHILANTHROPY
EBS STAFF
On Wednesday, Sept. 3, Gallatin River Child Care will host a ribbon cutting for its new facility in Big Sky, set to open in September, providing care for up to 24 children aged six weeks to three years.
Families and businesses are invited to the ceremony at 5 Spruce Cone Drive in Town Center, beginning at 4 p.m. with tours followed by words from community members at 4:30, according to a press release from Lone Mountain Land Company and Yellowstone Club Community Foundation.
LMLC and the Yellowstone Club first opened GRCC in Gallatin Gateway in February 2024 as a state-licensed provider previously reserved for their employees, until GRCC recently received 501(c) (3) status and opened to the general public—the change allowed for an increased capacity from 30 to 48 children, with current availability for kids aged six weeks to five years.
GRCC’s Big Sky facility will also be open to the public regardless of parents’ employer, although it was opened “through the generosity of LMLC and the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation,” the release stated. Business memberships “geared toward small businesses” are available, allowing member businesses to reserve slots for employees on a quarterly or seasonal basis.
“The new location will offer expanded hours of operation to support local families and business needs while complementing existing infant care options in Big Sky,” the release stated. GRCC Big Sky will open in September and is now accepting applications.
Increasing community capacity
“Quality, accessible early childhood education is absolutely critical to ensure a thriving community,” GRCC Director Jackie Ng stated in the release. “In the past year, we have expanded our care in Gallatin Gateway, and we are now days away from opening a new facility in Big Sky. We are humbled and excited to serve even more families in the Gallatin Valley, where we know the need is significant.”
Ng has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education and holds a master’s degree
in early childhood education. Under her leadership, GRCC provides a clean, safe environment and quality experience for all children, according to the release.
LMLC president Matt Kidd noted that reliable child care, especially for infants, is “absolutely vital” to help families thrive in a community like Big Sky.
“Additionally, we aim to increase the community’s capacity for child care services to remove waitlists, ensuring more children receive care and families experience less stress while planning their individualized schedules,” Kidd stated.
YCCF VP of Philanthropy Ciara Wolfe stated that the foundation invested in the facility based on community need, adding that GRCC will increase Big Sky’s child care services by 50% and reduce overall cost for all families needing care.
“We’re making sure local families have the support they need now, and that we can continue to attract young families to live in our community into the future,” Wolfe stated.
In a big-picture effort to support needs in the
area, Greater Gallatin United Way created the Big Sky Early Childhood Education Alliance to mobilize local providers, businesses and community organizations to help fund child care infrastructure.
CEO Kim Hall noted her gratitude for LMLC and YCCF’s investment in GRCC.
“Access to child care in Montana continues to be an ongoing challenge for families, which has ripple effects throughout entire communities,” Hall stated in the release. “We are heartened to see the commitment of these businesses and charitable organizations in Big Sky to create new and expanded opportunities for families to access quality child care.”
As part of GGUW’s alliance, LMLC “is leading the project design of a shared early learning facility near Town Center that will be available to the current local providers” that serve children aged 0 to five years, according to the release, including Discovery Academy and Morningstar Learning Center.
“Additional information about the project will be shared as plans evolve,” the release stated.
Rendering of the new facility in Town Center. COURTESY OF GRCC
GRCC’s Gallatin Gateway facility. COURTESY OF GRCC
GRCC’s Gallatin Gateway facility opened in early 2024. COURTESY OF GRCC
+ FARM | PLANNING AREA 8
Acres: 4.6 ± | Zoning: B-2M
Acres:
URBAN + FARM - PHASE 1 LOTS
Acres: 8.72± | Zoned: R-5
Units: 21 SFH, & 43 Townhomes
Listed with Graham Miles and Darren Streets
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
SARA SIPE
EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Community is built on many things: ideas, people, places, structures and environment. But is any community truly complete without dogs? Certainly, Big Sky would not be. Big Sky has a long, rich history of extraordinary canine residents, and they serve us well. We have dogs that rescue, dogs that retrieve, dogs that guide, and dogs that protect our perimeters.
But dogs have another extraordinary ability—they bring people together! Big Sky dogs are conversation starters, ice breakers and friend-makers. Our stores, trails, offices and parking lots are filled with our furry friends who always seem ready to make your acquaintance. Be open to this. Go say “hi" to Fido—I bet you meet one of your neighbors. And the more neighbors we know, the more grounded and cohesive our community becomes.
So, as we move through these fleeting summer days, don’t forget to say hello to your four-legged neighbors. It’s bound to put a smile on your face!
Big Sky Community Spotlight is a short column that is meant to shine a light on those in Big Sky doing important work. Whether it be a profession, hobby or volunteer work, Big Sky is home to interesting people that do interesting things and as our community grows, it is important to stay connected to our neighbors and local businesses. This is more easily done if we know more about one another. We hope you enjoy getting to know your neighbors!
This seven-year-old Chihuahua enjoys protecting the perimeter and soaking up the sun (on a pillow like the Princess she is).
This two-year-old spaniel-lab mix loves swimming and retrieving golf balls from the tall grass.
Always up for the next adventure, this nine-year-old mini husky is a ball of energy.
This six-year-old border collie is always up for an adventure but also likes to stop and smell the wild flowers.
At just eight weeks old, this mini Corgi has already found his (short) stride at the Big Sky Community Park and Beehive Basin Brewery.
As a former ultrarunner, at 13 years old this recently retired blue heeler now enjoys a slower pace of life with her favorite humans (mom and dad) on a trail or at a favorite fishing hole.
This almost 11-year-old corgi is a frequent visitor from Bozeman.
At four years old, this English great dane does whatever he wants all summer.
This five-year-old aussiedoodle splits her time between here and Maryland and is always ready for a hike.
Walks with friends Dash, Birdie and Pippi are this six-year-old Akita-labmix's favorite summer activity.
Like many Bernese mountain dogs of Big Sky, this spunky three-year-old loves heading out of town on hots day to Hebgen Lake.
When this six-year-old cattle dog mix isn't in town giving off his big "duke" energy, he can be found at a river or lake.
Always ready for a swim!
Willie Duke
Addy
Blue
Sierra Scout
Oats
Biggie
Ein
Chuck
Brick
Stella Blue
Stink-eye Stella
“EVERYONE THINKS THEY HAVE THE BEST DOG, AND NONE OF THEM ARE WRONG.”
- W.R. PURCHE
A cool drink. That's all this one-anda-half-year-old handsome shelter mutt needs to be happy on a hot summer day.
Following a jog, this five-year-old commuting corgi loves to stop by Treeline Coffee.
New to the pack, this one-year-old collie/heeler mix is content to spend all her time with her small human.
Like the good heeler she is, eight-year-old Fannie is all about chasing squirrels.
When asked about her favorite summer activity, this one-and-half-year-old Bernese mountain dog had no comment.
This naughty little seven-year-old husky-German shepherd mix spends his time eating things he shouldn't while he waits for winter.
Like many of our bigger fellas, this four-year-old great Pyrenees and lab mix is always eager to find a body of water to cool off in, any day of the week.
At 15 years young, rafting the Yellowstone, cold plunges and wildflower hikes (by the creek of course) are favorite pastimes of this black lab and German shorthair mix.
Waiting for winter.
At just three months old, this future service dog already enjoys an outdoor lifestyle including kayaking. As she learns and grows in Big Sky, Alaska will be poised to provide her human with whatever assistance may be needed. Good Luck, Alaska! canine.org
Alaska
Pippin
Smoochie
Felix Dobby
Tess
Bert
Fannie
Birdie
Hidey
Lola
Enjoys long walks with epic views.
A mini goldendoodle and three cavapoos round out this pack of four-year-old squirrel chasers.
Spending this summer wondering why his mother moved them away from Big Sky.
When this five-year-old (mostly) Alaskan malamute is in between shifts at the Blue Moon Bakery, her favorite summer activity is walking over to LPC to get a dog treat from whoever is behind the counter.
Is there anything happier than a threeyear-old golden retriever enjoying a ride in a golf cart with his human? No.
Nothing is better than a soft canyon breeze for this nine-year-old Alaskan shepherd.
FOREVER SUMMER
“Everyone is taught that angels have wings, but the lucky ones of us find they have four paws.” – Unknown
Until recently, this five-year-old black lab's favorite summer activities were biking with his roomies and going to a barbecue. He's now discovered the waterslide. Summer will never be the same.
This good girl loved swimming and feeling the summer breeze. Loved and missed by the Ladd Family.
The G.O.A.T. Loved and missed by the Paulson Family.
You never had to ask twice if this good girl wanted to go to the river. Loved and missed by Ozer Family.
A girl's best friend. Loved and missed by the Matute Family.
He's ready, willing and able!
A bike or a hike! That's all this sevenmonth-old Australian shepherd has on his mind this summer.
New to the Big Sky scene, this two-and-a-half-month-old morsell of cuteness is learning to hold his own as a little-dog living in a big-dog world.
Macy, Byrdie, Sunny, Coco
Milo
Tippet Kitty
Buddy
Stetson
Black Betty Grady
Schmoe
Sadie
Beavis
Ullr Dallas
Semi-retired from the Country Market, at 10 years old this lab enjoys exploring Big Sky and spending time with "Uncle" Kyle down by the river near the ball fields. Echo
USING MEMES TO REACH THE PEOPLE
GALLATIN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR MAKES MEMES TO ENGAGE CITIZENS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
BY JEN CLANCEY
BOZEMAN—Most Americans don’t associate memes with local government, but most Americans don’t live in Gallatin County where one social media manager is posting outside-the-box content to catch citizens’ attention.
One meme references a famous “Notting Hill” scene when actress Julia Roberts professes her love for the protagonist, but instead of the original scripted text, the meme reads, “I’m just a local government social media manager, standing in front of her county residents, asking them to be heard by the people who count, which sadly isn’t me, despite my excellent meme game.”
Another is just a photo of Gayle King after her brief flight to space earlier this year, with the caption, “When you get engaged and then remember you now have a wedding to plan.” The post reminds residents of marriage license services available at the Gallatin County Justice Center.
These visual pop culture references are the work of Gallatin County Communications Coordinator Whitney Bermes. At her desk in the Gallatin County Courthouse in Bozeman, Bermes infuses her sense of humor into communications to tell people to subscribe to The Bulletin, a “one-stop shop” for anything people need to know about local government happenings. The Bulletin, too, is the creation of Bermes, who has led communications for the county for the past seven years and started the newsletter three years ago.
EVERY DEPARTMENT I KNOW WANTS MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS, WHETHER IT'S THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OR ELECTIONS. YOU KNOW, WE WANT HIGHER TURNOUTS IN ELECTIONS, WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO SHOW UP TO OUR TOWN HALLS. WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENTS SO WE KNOW THAT THE DECISIONS WE'RE MAKING HAVE REACHED THE PEOPLE … THEY SHOULD BE REACHING. AND COMMUNICATIONS JUST PLAYS A ROLE IN THAT AND AN IMPORTANT ROLE.”
—Whitney Bermes, Gallatin County Communications Coordinator
For Bermes, the opportunity to add some lightness in her work is refreshing.
“A lot of what government does is so serious,” Bermes told EBS. “And so to be able to bring a little levity to government just also brings a lot of joy to me.”
She said she was inspired by several government pages online like the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the National Park Service and nearby Missoula County, that have worked to infuse humor into their work. It’s also a way to reach more residents where they’re at: on the internet.
“They’re in a space that has humor and has sarcasm
and has wit,” Bermes said. So far, the method has worked in getting people to engage with Gallatin County social media.
In the past, Bermes said, a generic post reminding followers to check out the newsletter resulted in maybe one or two likes—now that number can range from 15 to 100 depending on the popularity of the meme. One Aug. 12 meme celebrating the Gallatin County Road and Bridge Department garnered 119 likes on Instagram, referencing Taylor Swift’s announcement of her next album “Life of a Showgirl,” with a department truck on a glittery background.
The Bulletin subscription rate also has improved thanks to the creative messaging, with five to 15 new subscribers a week, according to Bermes.
She said that the memes 100% reflects her sense of humor, and also what she sees online. And while some memes don’t “hit” every time, Bermes noted that an unpopular meme is just a part of the process, as is knowing when a meme is unnecessary or not appropriate for the situation.
“Not every topic is ripe for a meme,” Bermes said. “I mean, there’s still obviously decorum and professionalism that you wanna make sure that you’re… using to represent your organization.”
Overall, Bermes sees memes as just another tool to reach people, and another way to empower residents to get involved.
“Every department I know wants more engagement with their constituents, whether it’s the health department or the sheriff’s office, or elections,” Bermes said. “You know, we want higher turnouts in elections, we want more people to show up to our town halls. We want more people to provide public comments so we know that the decisions we’re making have reached the people … they should be reaching. And communications just plays a role in that and an important role.”
Outside of social media and emailed newsletters, Gallatin County communicates through mailers, phone calls, door-to-door visits in urgent situations and evacuations, public meetings, town halls,
outreach events or tabling in different locations in the county, speaking at city and town meetings, community notification systems, press releases, and collaborations with stakeholders and partners—all in pursuit of getting the word out about county information.
“It’s just like a different language … we wouldn’t say the same things in a meme that we would say in an op-ed that we’d write for the newspaper. But it’s just translating in different ways in hopes that we continue reaching all of our residents as best we can,” Bermes noted.
“And if it takes a joke or two, so be it.”
A meme on Gallatin County social media by Bermes about citizen engagement. IMAGE COURTESY OF GALLATIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT
A meme on Gallatin County social media by Whitney Bermes about the county newsletter. IMAGE COURTESY OF GALLATIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Whitney Bermes in the Gallatin County Courthouse in Bozeman. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
‘THIS THING IS IMPERFECT’: DEPT. OF REVENUE DIRECTOR LEADS PROPERTY TAX FORUM IN BIG SKY
DIRECTOR BRENDAN BEATTY GIVES HONEST REMARKS ON NEW LEGISLATION, HOW IT IMPACTS MONTANA’S ‘GOLDEN GOOSE’ IN RESORT COMMUNITIES LIKE BIG SKY
BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY—Big Sky residents got a taste of the “no bulls**t” philosophy held by Brendan Beatty, director of the Montana Department of Revenue, as he colorfully explained his difficult role of enforcing Montana’s property tax policy as it undergoes rapid reform enacted by state legislators.
The event was hosted Tuesday evening, Aug. 19, by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce as part of its Business in Big Sky series, and the second local event in August aimed at clarifying the new property tax legislation.
In his role, Beatty lamented the “misinformation and disinformation” among taxpayers—many of them frustrated, especially in communities like Big Sky with high taxable property values and second homes being targeted under new tax policy—and emphasized his mission to make his department “the nation’s most citizen-oriented tax agency.” He repeatedly reminded attendees that while they may have frustrations with DOR, they really should direct that energy towards Montana’s elected legislators who put the policies in place.
“With the tax shift in the new legislation, I’m gonna pay more taxes,” Beatty said. “So, one of the things people forget is, we are you. Just because I have this job doesn’t mean I’m not feeling the same pinch that everybody else is.”
John Zirkle, board member for the Big Sky Resort Area District, moderated the event including a mathematical walkthrough to illustrate the property tax system and relative statistics about Big Sky. Afterwards, he praised the community for bringing a lot of questions in a confusing time.
“I’m so psyched to see citizen engagement,” Zirkle told EBS. “The big takeaway from me, learning more about the Department of Revenue, is that
mission statement: that they’re citizen-oriented first. And we heard that a lot from Director Beatty tonight.
“And what we saw were citizens engaging, and people that work for them listening, and taking intense questions with a clearly passionate room.”
‘This is not easy for any of us’
Beatty was joined by Paula Gilbert, division administrator of DOR’s property assessment division.
“It’s so important that you understand how property taxes work, and where we come up with our values,” Gilbert said. “Nobody likes paying property taxes, but if you understand it, hopefully that will make it a little bit easier to swallow.”
Gilbert explained the assessment process. With more than 800,000 properties to assess
every two years, DOR’s computer-assisted massappraisal model accounts for nearby properties with similar characteristics, but can often fail to accurately capture an individual home’s taxable and market value.
“We are not the appraisers, we do not look at every property individually for obvious reasons—we don’t have time to do that,” she said. Beatty emphasized that mistakes happen, and it’s imperative for property owners to fill out the “citizen-friendly” form AB-26 to inform DOR of suspected errors.
Attendees pointed out that property ownership under LLCs and trusts may create complications with the new homestead exemption policy, and Beatty admitted it’s still unclear how DOR should best enforce the spirit of the legislation and address loopholes.
“I don’t know how I’m gonna do it, frankly… This thing is imperfect. But almost all legislation is imperfect,” he said. “And we’re gonna have to work through it, and you guys, the best thing you can do is make phone calls to your elected people and talk to them about these things… I encourage you to exercise your say in how this works.”
Gilbert said DOR staff are frequently struggling to make sense of the numbers in a complicated formula.
“This is not easy for any of us… It doesn’t make sense to most of us at this point,” she said.
While Gilbert and Beatty encouraged dialogue from property owners, they—and Zirkle—also demonstrated the math that goes into property tax appraisals. Zirkle showed data illustrating that the median property value on Big Sky’s Gallatin County side has tripled since 2021, from roughly $500,000 to $1.5 million in 2025. On the Madison County side, the median value has more than tripled over that span, from $1.2 million to $4 million.
However, nearly half of properties on the Gallatin County side of Big Sky saw their taxable value decline since 2023—in total, nearly one-third of
Zirkle combined his emcee skills and inclination for math as he led Tuesday’s event. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
Brendan Beatty, director of the Montana Department of Revenue, and DOR property assessment officer Paula Gilbert spoke at an Aug. 19 event in Big Sky. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
September 4 - September 17, 2025
Big Sky’s 7,500 properties across both counties. And among those, some properties occupied by primary residents who qualify for the homestead exemption may see their taxes drop in both 2025 and 2026 based on the new legislation.
“And in this change, I think we can understand at least what some people were going for with legislative changes, was property tax relief,” Zirkle said. “And there’s an example of how it’s happening in Big Sky.”
But on the other hand, many non-primaryresidents or those using their properties for shortterm rental will likely see their taxes increase significantly, Zirkle explained.
Shooting at the golden goose
Beatty offered historical perspective on why Montana residents are seeing property taxes rise, emphasizing that heavy industries such as mining, oil and gas, and lumber once carried the brunt of Montana’s tax burden.
“The gold mines are gone. The places like Big Sky are the gold mine,” Beatty said. “I don’t want to kill it—this is a huge revenue generator for the state. It’s like 5% of the state’s gross domestic product.”
Beatty said he loves Big Sky and acknowledged it’s not all luxury homes, but also many people working for a living. Still, recent policy has shifted the tax burden toward destination communities.
“We need to not kill the golden goose here, because this is one of the last gold mines left to help fund things,” Beatty said. Later, responding to an audience comment regarding new policy’s impact
on Montana’s resort industry, Beatty responded, “Montana has a history of shootin’ at the goose.”
He said just about every legislator campaigned on fixing Montana’s broken property tax system—with support from Gov. Greg Gianforte, who appointed Beatty—but jabbed that very few lawmakers know as much about the system as the Big Sky residents in the ballroom Tuesday night.
“And that ain’t no joke,” Beatty said. “So what we had was promises made on the campaign trail, and then, of course, momentum caught on. Something was going to happen.”
Simply put, he said the only way to fix tax burden is to decrease services or find new money. These days,
it seems that new money is coming from Montana’s part-time residents.
“It was designed to encourage residency… and it was designed to encourage long-term rentals,” Beatty said. “… And then there’s that other piece, of ‘well, let’s tax without representation,’ and that would probably be a few [taxpayers] in this room.”
Zirkle’s presentation material came from reports and information on the DOR website, and he encourages citizens to explore there to learn more.
“It’s really good stuff,” he told EBS. “It’s not that difficult to understand once you sit down with it quietly… The contacts you need, the information you need, the research you need.”
35 North Fork Road, Big Sky
2040 Little Coyote Road, Big Sky
Cutthroat Trout, Big Sky
Moose Ridge Road
#3, Big Sky
PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
500 years ago, at least 30 million bison roamed the plains. That number is now less than 30,000.
The depletion of free range bison has been attributed to:
•Decades of over-exploitation
•Decline in genetic diversity
•Habitat loss
•Human Interaction
Yellowstone National Park boasts the nation's largest free range buffalo herd, but only two others remain - the Henry’s Mountains and Book Cliffs herds, both in southern Utah.
Paid for by the animals in your backyard.
“We
BSOA ANNUAL MEETING PRESENTS NEW LEADER, SPOTLIGHTS LOCAL INTERESTS
TIDBITS FROM BIG SKY RESORT, YUKON TO YELLOWSTONE, DEPT. OF REVENUE AND RESORT TAX
BY JACK REANEY SENIOR EDITOR
For many Big Sky residents, Labor Day weekend began with a tradition as old as the community: the Big Sky Owners Association annual meeting. In the event’s 53rd year, the Friday evening summit foreshadowed strong years ahead under newly hired Executive Director Holly Coltea.
“She’s been with us for just over two months, and she’s doing a fantastic job,” board chair Maggie Good told a full ballroom at The Wilson. “She’s got an incredible amount of energy, and she’s trying to address a multitude of issues that we face all the time at the BSOA and I couldn’t be more thrilled that she’s on board.”
Coltea described her background and her vision of leadership for the future of the BSOA, including her commitment to focus on creating an environment where residents feel supported, respected and proud of BSOA’s work.
“And in return, I ask that each of us bring that same spirit to every interaction with each other, with our fellow homeowners, with our community partners and with the broader community,” Coltea said. “If we lead with this mindset first, I believe that we will run not just a better BSOA, but a place where people truly feel cared for.”
Friday’s official BSOA business included a finance report, updates on the architectural committee and gratitude to Kristin and Kelly Kern for their contribution to BSOA’s nearly finished pond restoration project.
Of note, Treasurer Kenny Holtz announced a 4.3% increase in annual dues to $545. He cited a spike in liability and homeowners’ insurance costs, from $36,000 to $82,000 in the past year, as well as the board’s effort to make up for a decade in which dues did not increase—the freeze created an opportunity cost of more than $1.2 million, he said.
Later, board member George Mueller gave an update on the Big Sky Architectural Committee, explaining that BSAC will be shifting from “complaint-based” to “proactive compliance” regarding trash, holiday lights, noxious weeds and parking. In the interest of wildfire mitigation, BSAC will no longer approve wood burning fire pits or outdoor fireplaces—existing ones will be grandfathered but discouraged.
“One of the reasons that property insurance has gone sky high in the entire Big Sky area is because of fire danger, and the BSAC is going to do its part,” Mueller said.
Good also announced a new transportation committee working on a “global” rural improvement district to combine five separate RIDs together in the Mountain Village for maintenance. In the Meadow Village, BSOA will incorporate its two existing bridges into RIDs to address maintenance.
“Road maintenance is a top priority, it’s one of the key things that the BSOA has responsibility for,” Good said.
With
Resort boasts efficient lift network, new happenings
Big Sky Resort President and COO Troy Nedved gave a brief construction update on the Explorer Gondola, set to open Dec. 20 after three years of work and still “a lot to do.”
Explorer Gondola will become the world’s fastest 10-seat gondola, combining with recently built Swift Current 6 and Ramcharger 8 to put the uphill capacity of Big Sky Resort’s base area on par with significantly more crowded resorts, Nedved explained.
“It’s ultimately going to eliminate all of our ski lift lines from the base area, period,” he said. “We’re going to have about 10,000 people-per-minute capability out of our base area.”
Nedved said the new Lone Peak Tram, now with two winters under its belt, saw a 54% increase in ridership in its second season, helped by greatly improved snow conditions in 2024-25. Even with increased use, Nedved was proud to report average wait times under 15 minutes.
“It almost blew me away at actually how efficient that worked,” Nedved said to a room full of applause. Years ago with the former tram, the goal was 30 minutes, he added.
New this coming winter, Lone Peak Tram riders will also experience the new Kircliff summit attraction. Nedved explained it will help accommodate summer tourism, providing shelter from lightning and high winds for customers riding to the peak.
In another win for the resort’s lift infrastructure, Nedved said the 2024-25 debut of Madison 8 enabled 60% more riders than the final season of the retired Six Shooter lift.
Beyond lifts, the resort will introduce a new “Alpine Iglu” attraction between the top terminal of the Explorer Gondola and the bottom of the Lone Peak Tram. The European-inspired igloo will be built in January, serving food and drinks in the bowl.
Finally, in April, the resort will adjust its end-ofseason schedule to meet demand. After Sunday, April 12, the resort will operate Friday through Sunday until closing day, April 26. The pond skim will take place on Saturday, April 11.
Resort Tax, Y2Y and Montana property tax
Daniel Bierschwale, executive director of the Big Sky Resort Area District, gave a casual update on the past year—a very busy year including tens of millions of dollars in voter-approved bonding, the voter-approved renewal of the Big Sky’s resort tax through 2065, and a pair of directly impactful bills in the Montana Legislature: Senate Bill 260 for special districts and Senate Bill 172 for workforce housing.
For those less familiar with the workings of Montana’s resort tax, Bierschwale noted that it’s “the best tax in the state of Montana” because 100% of tax revenues stay local to support a given resort community.
He noted that since 2018, Big Sky’s annual resort tax collections have increased from roughly $7.5 million to now over $23 million.
After hearing about Resort Tax, attendees heard from conservation nonprofit Yellowstone to Yukon. Daniel Anderson, senior outreach specialist for wildlife passage, told a compelling story of Montana’s population growth during his lifetime, and how his grandfather empowered him to work for the protection of wildlife corridors in a fastchanging landscape.
Anderson said Montana deserves wildlife-friendly transportation that lives up to the landscape, and encouraged the Big Sky community to get involved with Y2Y’s efforts to preserve the largest intact mountain system remaining in the world.
Finally, Brendan Beatty and Paula Gilbert returned after an Aug. 19 presentation about Montana’s complicated and fast-changing property tax system. They stuck around for Q&A with the attendees before the event adjourned for cocktails, appetizers and the holiday weekend.
official business closed, attendees got a sneak peek at the winter ahead.
Holly Coltea introduces herself to BSOA members. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
OP NEWS
OUTLAW PARTNERS REBRANDS HIT PODCAST TO OUTLAW BEAT
FORMALLY HOARY MARMOT PODCAST, OUTLAW BEAT BRINGS LOCAL NEWS, LIFESTYLE AND HUMOR TO THE EARS
OUTLAW PARTNERS
Outlaw Partners is excited to announce the official rebrand of its popular podcast Explore Big Sky with Hoary Marmot to Outlaw Beat. The name change brings the show under the broader Outlaw media umbrella, aligning it more closely with Outlaw’s family of brands including Explore Big Sky, Mountain Outlaw, Explore Yellowstone and Town Crier.
Outlaw Beat is proud to provide the community with stories from the West. It’s the unique, authentic storytelling that listeners have come to love, now with even stronger ties to the voice of the Greater Yellowstone community. The podcast focuses on the news, lifestyle and characters shaping southwest Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, blending informative reporting with humor and heart.
Longtime Big Sky local Michelle Veale Borden (Broad Comedy) and her husband, TV comedy writer Joe Borden (Tosh.0), co-host the show. With their insider knowledge and signature wit, the duo makes each episode both engaging and enlightening. From local headlines to in-depth interviews with fascinating personalities, Outlaw Beat delivers real stories with a light touch. Guests have included, alpine ski legend Bode Miller, rodeo star–turned–country musician Chancey Williams, the Montana State University Rodeo Team and stock contractor and reality TV alum Cord McCoy. They’ve also interviewed a 9-year-old motocross star, international singer-songwriter Kishi Bashi during his residency with the Bozeman Symphony, and a local Bozeman man who had his jaw ripped off by a grizzly bear—and survived to tell the tale.
“We’re thrilled to have become an increasingly important part of Outlaw’s offerings and this change will give us better footing to tell compelling, entertaining stories,” said Joe.
“I already changed my beautiful last name to Borden—ugh—and now you guys are making me change the name of my podcast? When will it stop?!” Michelle added.
Listeners can expect weekly episodes, packed with timely news and stories that matter to the local community. The show remains available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, and is actively promoted through Explore Big Sky, Outlaw Partners' website, and social media channels. The rebrand is part of Outlaw Partners’ broader mission to create a cohesive, recognizable network of media that serves the dynamic and growing audience in and around the Yellowstone region.
We want to hear from you, listeners. Community suggestions for future guests and topics are welcome. Email ideas to media@theoutlawpartners.com.
SPORTS
BIG HORN SOCCER DOMINATES THOMPSON BLUE HAWKS IN FIRST GAME
BY JEN CLANCEY
BIG SKY—On Saturday afternoon, Aug. 30, the Lone Peak High School Big Horns faced the Thompson Falls High School Blue Hawks in their season opener on Big Sky turf. The Big Horns held strong leads in both the girls’ and boys’ games by halftime, closing out the matches with shoutouts.
The girls team finished with a lineup of nine goal scorers, winning 10-0. First to score was sophomore Zoe Lucchini, finishing on a corner kick from senior captain Harper Morris. The Lone Peak girls led 2-0 by 15 minutes into the game, and while Blue Hawks junior keeper Ava Lawyer worked to tip up shots, stop breakaways and make saves, pressure from the Big Horns kept coming. Playing with no subs, the Blue Hawks struggled to contain the Big Horns’ midfield and aggressive defense.
At around 21 minutes in, Lawyer saved a shot by senior captain Maddie Wilcynski, but freshman Charlotte Kidd capitalized on the rebound, boosting the Big Horns’ lead to 3-0.
By halftime, the score sat at 6-0 after Morris sent a shot to the back of the net with an assist from Lucchini. As the game wore on, more players got their chance to shoot on goal.
Across class years, goal scorers included Kidd, eighth grader Zoey Nedved, sophomore Ella Slieff, Wilcynski, sophomore Olive Wolfe, and sophomore Lola Morris with one goal each, and sophomore Maeve McRae with two goals. McRae’s finishes included a first half grass cutter past Lawyer, who worked one-on-one against McRae to angle her out of a shot.
Senior captains Morris and Wilcynski were excited to see so many people take shots on goal in their first game of the season.
Wilcynski noted two highlights of the match: “I think our young girls getting their first goals as a
Big Horn and just like the positivity that our team had throughout the game cheering each other on,” she said.
They also are excited to see their teammates gel well together.
“I would say our chemistry is a huge part of who we are and I feel like that’s why we’re able to connect and work so well together, and we also have really good work ethic—everyone on our team,” Morris said.
As for the season ahead, the captains are looking forward to playoffs, a competitive game against rival Laurel High School, and improving every step of the way in their last year on the team.
Boys beat Thompson Falls 6-0
The Big Horn boys played next, starting strong with goals by juniors Dudley Davis and Liam Barker. Joining his fellow junior goal scorers, Sid Morris volleyed a corner kick to the back of the net. Sophomore Cullen Shiel also sent a ball soaring to the back of the left side of the net in the first half, allowing the Big Horns to wrap up the first half with a 4-0 lead.
The shots on goal were far from over; the second half saw dozens of attempts, some successfully blocked by senior Blue Hawk keeper Isaac Willite, or just beyond the goal posts. Two soared into the back of the net, one coming from sophomore Dom DiTullio for 5-0 and another from senior Brady Johnson to complete a 6-0 shutout.
Head coach Tony Coppola was happy to see the boys take opportunities in front of the goal.
“They moved the ball very well. There was good communication and one of the things that I was really impressed with was the amount of shots that we take. We’re usually not a high scoring team. So it was good to get some goals and get some shots on goal,” Coppola told EBS.
He’s excited to see the Big Horns work together as a team to move the ball down the field.
“I think they’re coming together as a team very well … there’s not a lot of ego and I feel like they’re working together. And that’s a really big part of it,” Coppola said. Goals for the team include a return to playoffs, competing in the Class A state tournament and having a safe, healthy team throughout the season.
“You know, at the end of the day, I just really want 'em to have a successful season, you know? In the classroom, you know, on and off the pitch. We try to build better humans here,” Coppola said.
Senior Brady Johnson looks to cross the ball. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Junior Sidney Trulen takes the ball down the right wing. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Senior captain Maddie Wilcynski reaches for the ball off of a corner kick. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
SPORTS
BIG SKY BIGGIE’S SEVENTH YEAR DRAWS HUNDREDS TO LOCAL TRAILS
ORGANIZERS EMPHASIZE GRATITUDE TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS FOR GRANTING PERMISSION
BY JEN CLANCEY
BIG SKY—Between 8 and 8:40 a.m. on Saturday morning, Aug. 23, hundreds of bikers began their 15-, 30- and 50-mile journeys for the seventh annual Big Sky Biggie. The community race welcomes people from all over the region and beyond in celebration of riding bikes on unique Big Sky terrain, some portions including private land otherwise inaccessible to the public.
Race Director Natalie Osborne noted the effort put into partnerships to expose riders to Big Sky trails annually.
“Every year, every course we’ve ever had has been a combination of anywhere between seven to 13 different permits with different landowners,” Osborne said. “The land in Big Sky is sort of a patchwork of public and private land. And so as
the course travels around and through Big Sky we have to reach out to every landowner to get access permission and then have a use agreement.”
She said as bikers rolled through nearby resorts and clubs, members and residents got to spectate the range of professional to recreational athletes taking on the terrain, some even competing in the race themselves.
“I think everyone understands … it’s a really nice event for Big Sky and they’re willing to, you know, open up the gates … so to speak, for this event for one day of the year,” Osborne said.
On top of plotting a race course, the event also donates to support local trails. This year, Big Sky Biggie donated $10,000 to both Big Sky Community Organization and Big Sky’s chapter of the Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association, also known as the Trail Dogs. The Biggie also donated $2,500 to Big Sky Search and Rescue, which Osborne noted the event couldn’t have happened without.
Bikers talk Biggie at the finish line
As 50-milers began to trickle through the finish line amongst 30-mile racers on Saturday afternoon, Explore Big Sky spoke with some of the participants, some new to the race, and others who could be considered regulars.
For Bozeman roommates Ian Jarvi and Will Ryan, this was their first time participating in the Biggie.
“It was super epic and I think we were both in decent shape for it,” Jarvi said. During the event, Ryan’s back brakes gave out, a testament to the physical and technical challenge of the Big Sky Biggie. Despite the issue, both racers enjoyed the downhill portions on Mountain to Meadow and Snake Charmer during their 30-mile runs.
“You know, we bike like 20-something times in the summer and … once a summer or so, it’s great to get out there and see how crazy other people are,” Jarvi said. “It’s just really amazing to see this huge community and then to see if we can do what they kind of do—push ourselves. Will likes to say something like, ‘it’s good to do something super hard once in a while.’”
Jarvi thanked the medical team for doing a great and attentive job of assessing riders after their races.
Another first timer, Valerie Lowe, did the 15-mile race and is used to more local, recreational gravel trails.
“One of the things I find interesting about this race is that you go on to private land and then public land and then resort land,” Lowe said. “I think with all of these events, it’s nice that it’s not just one person that takes these things to happen … It takes
Bikers cross the finish line in Big Sky Town Center on Saturday, Aug. 23. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Valerie Lowe. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Ian Jarvi (left) and Will Ryan (right) after completing 30 miles at the Big Sky Biggie. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
a lot of people coordinating, so it’s special we can do stuff like that.”
A crew of Big Sky Biggie regulars also discussed the race with EBS. Karen Mitchell, Rebekah Bunting, Kim Greene, and Candy Barton all completed the 30-mile race. They met through their kids, through skiing, and one duo actually met at the Big Sky Biggie start line.
As they climbed and rode down the course, they made sure all of them were together using Marco Polo call outs.
“Usually sometime around Hummocks I have to yell— ‘I love you guys,’” Mitchell said. The group
called themselves team “Mullet” and jokingly modified the name to “Cougar Mullet.” They described a tough journey up Ralph’s Pass, great snacks from aid stations along the route and “amazing” work by event volunteers.
“We wanna thank Natalie for doing this for so many years … and the private landholders, I have to say, it makes me come back every year because the trail’s a little bit different and we get access to lands that we don’t get a chance to ride on regularly.”
Osborne reflected on the purpose of the race, and several moments that highlighted what the event means. She said the community and its businesses
“get it,” understanding the purpose of the event.
“It’s not just a bike race and it’s not just about raising money either, because as you and I both know, there are plenty of nonprofits in this town that donate financially to the trails,” Osborne said.
She noted meaningful moments during the event, like a group of bikers from Idaho completing the race in memory of their friend who wanted to do the Big Sky Biggie, and racers sharing their excitement about wildlife sightings along the way.
“It’s about bringing so many different people all together to ride bikes and share the experience together,” Osborne said.
From left to right: Karen Mitchell, Rebekah Bunting, Kim Greene and Candy Barton. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Bikers round the corner to the finish line. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
ENVIRONMENT
SNIFFING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
BOZEMAN NONPROFIT WORKING DOGS FOR CONSERVATION PUTS CANINES TO WORK IN THE GYE, ACROSS THE WORLD
BY MIRA BRODY VP MEDIA
This week, Alice Whitelaw is training dogs to detect mycoplasma bovis, the bacterium that causes pneumonia in bison. One of the four initial founders of the Bozeman-based, globally reaching nonprofit Working Dogs for Conservation, Whitelaw and her team have been using rescue canines for scientific target training. The targets are anything from invasive plant species and mussel identification to disease detection in animals such as bison and bighorn sheep.
Using working dogs for these tasks is less invasive to the ecosystem, less stressful for the wild animal involved, more efficient, and in many cases, more accurate.
“Just like dogs can detect cancer and other diseases, we're training them to identify these diseases,” Whitelaw said.
To train, she explained, they use a device called an olfactometer, an odor diffuser, hooked up to a computer. Scents are diffused through a series of boxes, randomly chosen by the computer—a plain piece of cotton, a rubber glove, or the actual mycoplasma sample—and the dogs check each box until they identify the correct target and are rewarded.
“It's quicker,” Whitelaw said simply. “If the dogs can do it successfully, it's quicker than waiting for lab results to come back. So instead of sheep or bison being held for days, even a week or more, the dogs go, “yes, no, yes.”
And the statistics back it up: with 100% accuracy, 1,298 out of 1,298 kit fox scat was correctly identified; they are nine times more likely than cameras to detect one bear or bobcat; 16 times more area was searched when identifying black footed ferrets at a 97% detection rate; and they are five times faster at finding brown tree snakes.
Whitelaw is a wildlife biologist and worked for several state and federal agencies throughout her career, mostly involved with the reintroduction of
endangered species. With her biology background, and her founding partners—Deborah Woollett, Aimee Hurt and Megan Parker, who has since departed—Working Dogs for Conservation began 25 years ago, growing globally and becoming a nonprofit in 2009.
Whitelaw and her partners noticed a demand for retrieving DNA from fecal samples in the biology world, coupled with a desire for a less invasive detection process—to avoid the need to capture an animal in order to collect vital data from it.
“What if we could get the same information by collecting scat and sending it off for DNA, noninvasively finding information,” Whitelaw said. “It turned out it works really well. We've been doing it for 25 years now, and we work all over the world.”
Working Dogs for Conservation has paws on the ground in 45 states and 36 countries. They’re just finishing project in Indonesia on the wild Sumatran Rhino population, the most endangered rhino in the world, with great success.
“I always tell the story of how as a wolf biologist, I thought I was really good at finding wolf scat,” Whitelaw said. “And then I trained a dog to find wolf scat, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I had no idea they were pooping over there.’ It just kind of blew my mind. That's kind of a running theme with all the work that we've done. Their abilities are almost limitless in terms of what things they can smell and what they can find for you.”
Detecting rhino horn poaching in South Africa. Finding geometric tortoises in South Africa. Detecting invasive island rats. Sniffing out invasive plants in Grand Teton National Park. These working dogs can do it all, and a lot of the work they do across the world is fostered right here in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with black bears, grizzly bears, mount lions, wolves and invasive weeds like spotted knapweed.
To find the right dog for the job, Whitelaw explained there’s a refined criteria. If they’re in need of new recruits, they’ll connect with local shelters and other working dog groups to seek out another canine staff member. Many are former
working dogs, such as search and rescue or police dogs in need of a career change, or rescue dogs that are imperfect for, say, a family home. All are hardworking and reward driven.
“It's getting dogs that need another chance,” Whitelaw said. “They need another outlet for all that energy they've got and that intensity, and that's exactly what we're looking for.”
While each dog has a primary handler, teams can vary depending on the bond between the human and dog, and the assignment at hand. Dogs can be trained on at least six, sometimes up to 13 different targets.
“The record holder is Wicked, who was a rescue dog from Anaconda,” Whitelaw said. “She knew 32 different targets and she traveled all over the world. She worked in China. She just went everywhere.”
Although at one point she had three at one time, Whitelaw currently has one detection dog, 12-yearold Rue. If they receive funding for a project in California, the pair will head out next month to work on Rue’s favorite target: endangered San Joaquin kit fox scat. Then, Rue will officially retire from field work.
Working Dogs for Conservation receives funding primarily from grants, service fees and individual donors. Their primary clientele is the federal and state government, and sometimes universities and other nonprofits.
In the years since Working Dogs for Conservation was founded, Whitelaw is constantly surprised by just how much dogs can do for conservation and the impact they’ve had on not only the work biologists do, but the environment, worldwide. When the organization started, there were only three other groups doing similar work. The industry has since grown into a global effort.
“I had no idea that it would expand into invasive plants and protecting islands and protecting species from poaching,” Whitelaw said. “That wasn't in my wildest dreams. So when I look back, it's like, ‘Wow, we've done a lot.’ … and it just continues to grow.”
Alice and working dog, Rue. PHOTO COURTESY OF WD4C
Working Dogs for Conservation has a global reach, but has a positive impact on projects here in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s environment. PHOTO BY HOLLY PIPPEL
DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD: SOMETHING SMELLS FISHY
CLOSING REGIONAL FOREST SERVICE OFFICES
BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS COLUMNIST
According to a new federal proposal, southwest Montana’s national forest land could soon be managed by an office in a different state with a different climate, distancing the U.S. Forest Service from its existing regional office in Missoula.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has proposed a significant reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service as it approaches its 150th anniversary. This plan includes closing nine regional offices and relocating them to cities far removed from the forests they oversee, raising serious concerns among stakeholders. Critics argue that this move is not merely logistical but part of a strategic effort to undermine the USFS and ultimately transfer control to states that lack adequate funding, potentially paving the way for corporate interests to profit from public lands.
The USFS manages 193 million acres of public land, historically divided into nine regions. The nine regional offices slated for closure include R1 (Northern office in Missoula, Montana), R2 (Rocky Mountain), R3 (Southwestern), R4 (Intermountain), R5 (Pacific Southwest), R6 (Pacific Northwest), R8 (Southern), R9 (Eastern) and R10 (Alaska).
These offices oversee millions of acres, crucial for wildfire management and community support during natural disasters. The new regional hubs will be located in Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah.
These new locations have minimal forest service land, and this drastic reorganization threatens to slow essential management tasks, such as combating wildfires, maintaining trails, roads and campgrounds, removing hazardous fuels, assisting with search and rescue operations and responding to emergencies.
“Brooke Rollins’ reorganization plan will spin the Forest Service out of control. It makes zero sense.
There’ll be less intel, fewer people on the ground, and nothing but chaos,” said Land Tawney, CEO and owner of the conservation advocacy group American Hunters and Anglers, in an Aug. 18 social media post.
Rollins claims that the reorganization is necessary due to the high cost of living in Washington, D.C., where federal salaries include a locality pay boost of 33.94% to accommodate housing costs averaging $800,000. However, many of the proposed locations, like Fort Collins (30.52% locality rate) and Salt Lake City (17.06%), do not promise significant payroll savings, especially since most public land in Utah is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, not the Forest Service.
Mary Erickson, former supervisor of the CusterGallatin National Forest who retired in early 2024, also expressed skepticism about the plan. "If you’re really looking for savings and belt tightening, focusing on the higher level of the organization doesn’t bother me," she said in an interview with Mountain Journal. “It’s not like you couldn’t downsize the regional offices, but the transitional costs of that are daunting. As you eliminate regional offices, where does that work go? And how do you do that in a year’s time? That’s a lot of work. And they say they don’t want to do this in fire season. Those are pretty long these days.”
Erickson also noted that there hasn’t been a clear explanation for the choice of new locations, saying,
"No one seems to know who’s the mastermind behind this design.”
This drastic reorganization not only jeopardizes the integrity of our national forests but also raises serious ethical questions about the motivations behind it. If this plan does not raise alarm bells among the public, then what will? It is imperative that we advocate for the preservation and proper management of our public lands, rather than allowing them to fall into the hands of private interests for profit.
“Now, the kicker is they are trying to do this as part of a bigger plan to break the forest service, break our public lands management system so they can sell it off to the highest bidder,” Tawney said in his video.
A public comment period on the new plan closed on Aug. 26, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's next step is to review the comments and determine whether to proceed with the new plan.
Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller. His words have been published in Rolling Stone, Esquire, Field & Stream, The Guardian, Men’s Journal, Outside, Popular Science, Sierra, and other publications, and can be seen on his website.
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One lane bridge on a gravel road after a fire in Lolo National Forest. ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
IT’S TIME TO PROTECT THE ELK AND DEER HERDS OF GALLATIN GATEWAY AND BIG SKY
3,562
Deer and Elk were killed by vehicles in Gallatin County since 2008.
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THRIVING LANDSCAPES: BUILDING RESILIENCE AGAINST FIRE AND DROUGHT IN BIG SKY
BY JESS OLSON EBS COLUMNIST
As we approach the end of August and the end of summer, we can reminisce about this special place we live in. Maybe you caught your first cutthroat trout on the Gallatin River or took some visiting friends to Yellowstone National Park. Maybe you’re already over this heat and itching to get into winter, eagerly waiting for a snow-capped Lone Mountain. Regardless, we live in a wonderful place,and as much as we enjoy it, it is also up to us to help protect it.
Drought and wildfire risks are here
In August, we entered a severe drought, also known as level 3. This means that river and stream levels are lower than normal, we have less snowpack than we typically have this time of year, and we are seeing little to no precipitation.
This is far from the first time our summers have been hit with drought, and it will certainly not be the last. With drought comes higher wildfire risk. The fires burning near Big Sky and in neighboring Ennis are a stark reminder that these risks are not theoretical—they’re here, and they affect our communities, livelihoods, and landscapes in real time.
We are not here to be doom and gloom, but we do need to be realistic about our surroundings and actively take steps to become more resilient to our changing climate. Because Big Sky is a small community situated in the middle of national forest, we are at 96% higher risk of wildfires than other U.S. communities.
According to the Greater Yellowstone Climate Assessment, in the future we should expect less snowpack, which fuels our water supply, and longer periods of drought that further increase the likelihood of wildfires.
Preparing our homes and landscapes
Throughout the year, there are steps we can take to prepare our homes and landscapes to be more resistant to wildfire. In the short term, when fire risk is high, simple actions like moving firewood away from homes, clearing gutters of debris, trimming back dry vegetation, and keeping grasses cut can make a meaningful difference. Also, taking a couple minutes to sign up for emergency notifications through Everbridge is critical for staying up to date during emergencies.
In the longer term, we can invest in building more resilient landscapes by taking actions like planting native and firewise species, creating defensible
space around structures, and reducing the amount of flammable material near buildings. These efforts not only help protect individual properties but also strengthen the safety of our entire community.
Managing water supplies during drought and building wildfire resilience go hand-in-hand. Conserving water is one step we can all take to help keep the Gallatin River strong and protect our water supply. The water that we use at home and in our landscapes is the water that feeds the Gallatin River, and the water that we sometimes have to tap into for wildfires all come from the same source, an already limited supply of groundwater sitting below us.
By conserving water and using it wisely, we help protect our rivers, strengthen our defenses against wildfire, and ensure this shared resource lasts for generations to come.
Alpenscapes is here to help
Fortunately, we know that one of the best ways to combat drought and wildfire, while keeping ourselves safe, is through our landscapes. We can blend beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces with our desire to keep our community thriving.
The Alpenscapes partners are here to help through every step of the way - assessing your home for wildfire risk, inspecting your irrigation system for inefficiencies, and helping you form a plan to tackle invasive species.We’re excited to work with you to create a landscape you’re excited to come home to.
Jess Olson is the conservation manager at the Gallatin River Task Force. She manages the Task Force’s Water Conservation Program and holds a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper certification to help you with your water-wise projects.
This map from Fire Adapted Big Sky, shows the area’s burn probability with blue being the lowest risk, and red being the highest. MAP COURTESY OF FIRE ADAPTED BIG SKY
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THE PUSH IS ON TO STRIP BIG TREES FROM OUR NATIONAL FORESTS
BY MITCH FRIEDMAN WRITERS ON THE RANGE
It didn’t get much notice, but President Trump has turbocharged logging on public lands in ways that are likely to increase dangerous wildfire. Inside the “Big Beautiful Bill” that became law this summer, a provision directs the U. S. Forest Service to annually increase the timber it sells until the amount almost doubles to 5 million board-feet by 2032.
Why did few people notice this directive to dramatically increase logging from our public lands? One answer is that it got lost as an engaged public fought selling off millions of acres of public land.
Final score: We got to keep the land but not the trees.
Most people support careful logging as part of the smart management of public forests. For instance, a now-irrelevant bill called Fix Our Forests Act had been steadily advancing through Congress, gathering support from both the timber industry and dozens of green groups, ranging from The Nature Conservancy to the Citizens Climate Lobby. By targeting over-abundant small trees while leaving the hardy big ones, that bill would have increased logging while protecting habitat and reducing wildfire.
Trump’s new law eliminates those protections, freeing loggers to cut big trees and leave behind the small ones. This will worsen existing tinderbox conditions, particularly in the West.
The law also essentially outsources some public forest management to corporations. It directs the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to develop at least 45 separate, 20-year contracts with private companies. The contracts would enable companies to log across whole districts—not yet determined—or even entire national forests.
An approach this broad has a sordid history of inefficiency, waste, and environmental destruction. For example, the Skokomish River on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula suffered decades of damaging floods as a result of the sweeping contract one company had for the so-called Shelton Sustained Yield Unit. That sweetheart timber deal created many bare, flood-prone hillsides and lasted from 1946 until 2022.
Perhaps it’s surprising, but even timber interests oppose 20-year contracts. Over 70 logging-related businesses sent a letter sent to the Forest Service, pointing out that by allowing a single company to tie up publicly owned timber in a national forest, “long-term contracts would harm competition, markets and prices.”
Why didn’t industry opposition get heard? One theory is that these contracts can serve as a fig leaf masking the consequences of Trump’s high tariffs on Canadian lumber. As tariffs on Canadian timber raise homebuilding costs, the administration can claim to be offsetting the problem by providing cheaper logs from national forests. In the meantime, the Forest Service is scrambling
to meet an onslaught of new Trump executive orders. In June, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins rescinded “seven agency-specific regulations” that resulted in a 66% reduction of mostly environmental reviews that will offer little opportunity for public comment.
Last week, Rollins also announced her intent to roll back the 2001 Roadless Area Protection Rule, which protects 60 million acres of wildlands. Until Sept. 19, the U.S. Forest Service is taking public comments for a study on the environmental impacts of rescinding the roadless rule, fierce legal and political fights are guaranteed in an effort to preserve the rule.
All this amounts to a lot of change for an agency ravaged by Elon Musk’s crew of cost-cutters. Some national forests here in Washington State have lost over a third of their professional staff, while regional offices may be eliminated entirely. Gone are the many experts who had the experience to
plan quality timber projects that respect fish and wildlife and reduce wildfire risk.
Will Trump succeed in near doubling the cut from our public forests? Based on my 40 years in the field, I predict the outcome will be a modest increase—but at the high cost of a severe reduction of best practices. That means our national forests, streams, and wildlife will suffer as dry fuels keep building up.
I see more big wildfires in our future.
Mitch Friedman is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit spurring lively conversation about the West. He heads Seattle-based Conservation Northwest, which he founded in 1989 after years with Earth First!. He is the author of Conservation Confidential: A Wild Path to a Less Polarizing and More Effective Activism.
Old logging road in a Montana national forest. COURTESY OF GREG MUNTHER / WRITERS ON THE RANGE
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COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR
THE RUT
FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, SEPT. 12-14
BIG SKY RESORT
Big Sky may be busier than usual on the Sept. 12-14 weekend for the annual Rut Mountain Runs, a running festival hosting races that take runners all over Lone Mountain.
While the race registration is closed, community members can cheer on racers at the Big Sky Resort base, or enter their kids in the free Runt Run on Saturday, Sept. 13.
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DINING
A LA CARTE: FINDING COMMUNITY AT BIG SKY’S NEW GLOBAL MARKET SOFT OPENING A TASTE TEST AHEAD OF
PLANNED NOVEMBER LAUNCH
BY RACHEL HERGETT EBS COLUMNIST
Owner Kyle Anderson greets me as I enter the Big Sky Global Market, a small building next to the Country Market in the Big Sky Meadow Village. It’s Saturday of Labor Day weekend, the first day of the first soft opening—meant to test how a small specialty store will fare in the Big Sky market and assess the needs of the customers. Ingredients are grouped by type, rather than region. There’s a potato chip section, one for curries, one for pastas and one for sweets. I’m a bit overwhelmed at the selection and feel I could spend hours reading labels.
Then something happens, and I start listening. The items on the shelves are no longer individual ingredients, but larger stories representing the people who love them. Customers exclaim when they find a nostalgic treat on the shelves and share recipes using ingredients seemingly unique to Montana palates.
“One of the things that is most meaningful to people is cuisine,” Kyle tells me.
The Anderson family has been coming to Big Sky since the ’80s and Kyle has seen the community take on more international flavor, with workers, community members and visitors hailing from all over the world. For Kyle, this almost makes it seem more like home. His father was a Russian linguist, and the Anderson house seemed to be a revolving door of exchange students, foreign visitors and refugees.
“Our house was a bit of a UN,” Kyle said.
Growing up with a global ethos eventually led Kyle on his own explorations around the world. Before going into business, Kyle was an academic, researching cultural interactions across continents while living in Italy for three years.
However, this sort of exposure does not mean he developed an early appreciation for international cuisine. Kyle admits that prior to living in Italy, his own tastes were limited. He wasn’t a fan of tomatoes, olives or mushrooms—and very well could have starved in Italy if he hadn’t expanded his palate. Now he laughs, trying to picture Italian food without those three ingredients, and recounts a pair of dishes he would have once avoided that are now seared into his brain—a grilled squash raviolo in a butter cream sauce and pesto gnocchi. Kyle started watching how the Italians cooked, and cooking for himself. He spent long hours savoring meals at Italian tables, and by the time he moved on, had taken on a different attitude around food.
Kyle’s food universe grew as he expanded his reach. He talks of years as a professor of Chinese, living in Shanghai and Beijing, of leading international programs in Strasbourg on the border of France
and Germany, and of time spent in Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia.
“It was a fun kind of life as a professor, and it exposed me to the world,” he said.
The store holds a vast selection of offerings, though currently tending toward European flavors. I’m swayed by the tastings near the entry—bits of bread to sample with olive oil and vinegar, and cut up rolls and pastries. When I spot the Clementine-infused olive oil, it immediately goes into my basket. I pick up some fancy Serrano ham, a Spanish sandwich staple I have written about before. Then a bottle of blackcurrant syrup finds its way into my purchase pile. It’s a product of France, but one that very much reminds me of living in England, where cider and blackcurrant was my typical pub order.
Kyle would like The Big Sky Global Market to work with existing businesses, not in competition with them. There are other places to get basic groceries, like the Country Market next door—a grocery store owned by his mother, Lynne Anderson. The Big Sky Global Market will lean toward high-end ingredients that a person is unlikely to encounter elsewhere in the area. He’s also considering adding the dry goods and appliances necessary for different dishes—like sushi-rolling or fondue-dipping kits. And while European flavors seem to dominate, Kyle has started a list of suggestions from customers for what they would like to see in the future, and is already considering a Latin market in one small room and the aforementioned sushiadjacent offerings.
We will have to see what it becomes. Another soft opening is set for the third weekend of October. The Big Sky Global Market will open daily sometime around Thanksgiving and the start of the season in November.
As I wander the aisles, I listen in as an Italian native and Big Sky local named Giovanni chats with other customers about pasta and sauce. San
Marzano tomatoes are renowned for their flavor, even in Italy, he says, gesturing toward the cans on the shelf. Next is an explanation of pasta shapes and how they grasp sauces. Giovanni doesn’t work in the store, but the openness he showed in sharing his knowledge seems to be an early theme.
I linger in the store, chatting with Kyle and various visitors. Sure, it’s the very first day of business, but I am already seeing something beautiful here. Here, we are given a chance to recount our travels, to share where we encountered these items and how we use them. People are connecting over the food. Somehow, a market that attempts to cultivate a vast global perspective has already created a sense of community.
Rachel Hergett is a foodie and cook from Montana. She is arts editor emeritus at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and has written for publications such as Food Network Magazine and Montana Quarterly. Rachel is also the host of the Magic Monday Show on KGLT-FM and teaches at Montana State University.
PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT
Kyle Anderson is testing out an international food market concept in Big Sky. PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT
BACK 40
‘SPOKES IN A WHEEL’ A LAND SWAP TURNED THE FATE OF THE GALLATIN RANGE IN MOTION. THAT FATE NOW HANGS IN THE BALANCE.
BY MIRA BRODY
It can be presumed that entrepreneur Tim Blixseth had a twinkle in his eye as he peered out the window during a fateful helicopter ride over the Gallatin Range, wild mountains stretching north from Yellowstone National Park’s upper boundary. It was 1991, 127 years after President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Northern Pacific Railroad Charter, dividing 47 million acres between Minnesota and Oregon into a checkerboard of federal and private land. Blixseth’s gaze was fixed on one such checkered parcel: 146,000 acres beginning north of the Hyalite drainage and encompassing everything from the rugged spine of the Gallatin Crest to the fertile and species-diverse Porcupine Creek as it flows into the Gallatin River.
At the time, that parcel was owned by Plum Creek Timber Company, a master limited partnership of Burlington Northern that harvested timber from remaining government-owned charter squares across the West. Although lush with timber, that particular tract in the Gallatins had proved challenging for resource extraction, as neighboring checker squares of federal land legally islanded it. But Blixseth, a keen businessman drawn to opportune circumstance, saw value beyond lumber in the land below him.
He asked the pilot to turn the helicopter back around to Bozeman and offered a decisive statement that would send a tremor across the entire gameboard and redirect the fate of the landscape: “We’ll take it.”
Blixseth, known for his eclectic portfolio of investments in the region that met with both success and failure, had just consolidated his holdings in the Pacific Northwest timber company, Crown Pacific, and had formed Big Sky Lumber Company with partners Mel and Norm McDougal, which purchased the parcel. In a game that perhaps resembled chess more than checkers, that land became a critical pawn in one of the most significant land exchanges in Western U.S. history, an act that would consolidate that fragmented land in the Gallatins, effectively setting the board for a spectrum of fates for a critical stretch of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. But decades later, another move has yet to be made.
Untangling a ‘land disaster’
Bob Dennee began his personal recollection of events the same way most people involved at the time did: with a deep breath as though preparing to dive deep underwater, a pause, and the declaration of a year. It was 1992, and Dennee was the lands and realty officer for Gallatin National Forest. Big Sky Lumber had bought the 149,000 acres in the Gallatins and had presented it on a platter to the Forest Service in exchange for a smattering of other timber-laden and accessible squares in the region, as well as another piece of land known as the South Block in the Madison Range.
Dennee was the lead contact in dealings between Big Sky Lumber and the Gallatin National Forest
and has what he calls a “corporate memory” of the land he’d become intimately familiar with over his career. When he talks about the history of mountain ranges in southwest Montana, it’s like listening to a witness to Pangea.
“Most people today ... they don’t recognize what took place in the 1990s and early 2000s to consolidate lands in these four mountain ranges: Madison, Gallatin, Bridgers and the AbsarokaBeartooths. It’s just all national forests,” Dennee said. “Most people don’t recognize, well, how did that happen? It used to be all checkerboard.”
Blixseth and his partners had bought the land not for what it could do for them, but what they knew it meant to the Forest Service and area conservationists—and what those parties would give up in exchange for it. Attorney Joe Sabol represented Big Sky Lumber in the deal.
“[Sabol] saw the long-term public value of acquiring and protecting the lands in Porcupine and Taylor Fork, and he did his best to push the owners in that way,” Dennee said.
Dennee said he spent countless hours in Sabol’s downtown Bozeman office drafting proposals alongside Blixseth, the McDougals and Sabol. Dennee, who is retired after 40 years following a legacy of land negotiation on behalf of the Gallatin Forest, said this negotiation in particular, “was a very significant part of my life.”
The exchange was made possible by two congressional land transactions: the Gallatin Land Consolidation and Protection Act of 1993, or Gallatin I, involving the Porcupine and South Cottonwood drainages; and the Gallatin Land Consolidation Act of 1998, or Gallatin II, involving mostly the Taylor Fork, Bridger and Bangtail ranges. Pat Williams, Montana’s congressional delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1979 and 1997, whose service is most marked by his conservation advocacy, sponsored the bills.
“We were facing a land disaster in the Gallatin,” Williams said. Originally from Helena, Williams spent his public life conserving the landscape he’d grown up in—he passed legislation to establish the Rattlesnake Wilderness in 1980 and the Lee Metcalf Wilderness in 1983—and with the
initiative in the Gallatins, he felt a sense of urgency. He, alongside other conservationists, feared that between brute timber extraction and a looming interest in real estate development, they would soon witness the complete loss of a critical wild landscape.
“Just north of America’s first national park, Yellowstone, the Gallatin Range connects the other mountains of the Yellowstone Ecosystem much like spokes in a wheel,” Williams was quoted during the congressional hearing.
Gallatin I was well received. The individuals and organizations that testified in support of the bill were of note: Montana Gov. Marc Racicot, Bozeman Mayor Timothy Swanson, the Montana Wilderness Association, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy, among others. Blixseth remarked that the conservation community and the timber industry being agreeable to a deal made about more than just dollar signs marked a unique moment.
“Certainly today, if we didn’t do this trade with the Forest Service, we would make a lot more money,” Blixseth said at the hearing. “There is a tremendous demand for these properties. There seems to be a big flock of people to the state of Montana just to buy a piece of the wilderness.”
By way of the two acts, the Gallatin National Forest acquired a total of 101,000 acres of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem between 1993 and 1998, most of which had been marooned in checkerboard squares in the Gallatin Mountains. In return for the exchange, Big Sky Lumber acquired 5,763 acres in the north Bridgers, three sections in the Bangtails, one section in the South Fork of the West Fork Gallatin and 12,414 acres on the Flathead and Lolo national forests. This exchange included the South Block, a 15,200-acre parcel nestled to the east of Lone Mountain near what was then the sleepy ski town of Big Sky. In 1999, Blixseth opened the Yellowstone Club on that land, proving his instinct in the helicopter less than 10 years before would yield a great business opportunity.
Setting the board
The story of this land swap is of course a story of land value, but to truly understand land value in the West, it’s important to understand the region’s railroad history. When the Northern Pacific Railroad Charter was signed in 1864, much of the country’s wealth was concentrated in the East. The charter was a grant provided by Congress to spread infrastructure to the unruly West with the intention of hauling and extracting resources and encouraging homesteading. It granted land in 640-acre offset squares known as sections; oddnumbered sections were given to private railroad companies and the federal government kept evennumbered sections. Many of Montana’s mountain ranges were chopped into this checkerboard.
Northern Pacific began railroad construction in 1870. In 1880, it consolidated to Burlington
For Explore Big Sky, the Back 40 is a resource: a place where we can delve into subjects and ask experts to share their knowledge. Here, we highlight stories from our flagship sister publication Mountain Outlaw magazine.
Noun: wild or rough terrain adjacent to a developed area Origin: shortened form of “back 40 acres”
Timber dealer and developer Tim Blixseth untangled a mass of Greater Yellowstone landscape where others had been unsuccessful. PHOTO BY JOHN KLICKER
Northern Railroad and in 1988 formed a public company, Burlington Resources, to manage its resource assets. A corporate split established the subsidiary Plum Creek Timber Company, which inherited the surface estate of Burlington’s remaining land; mineral rights transferred to Meridian Minerals, among others.
When Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, the Gallatins were excluded due to their complicated checkerboarding, leaving them an exposed, fragmented arm stretching north from the park’s upper boundary. Still, conservationists who’d had their eye on the land even before Blixseth’s fly-over didn’t yield in their efforts to preserve it. In the 1977 Gallatin Forest Plan, the range was designated a Wilderness Study Area, granting it temporary protection.
By the early 1990s, Plum Creek owned 146,000 acres of squares across the Gallatin, Madison and Bridger ranges, which were intermingled with sections of other public, state and private land. Unable to extract resources from a majority of their land, whisperings of Plum Creek’s intent to sell trickled through the region.
That’s when Bob Kiesling perked up. Kiesling was the founding executive director at The Nature Conservancy’s Montana-Wyoming field office.
“That was going to create an opening for who?” Kiesling recalled of Plum Creek’s potential selloff. “For somebody, for some government agency, for some institution like mine, The Nature Conservancy. I mean, who would be interested in those lands that were checkerboard and private?”
If there’s anyone who recalls just how close the Gallatin and Madison ranges once were to coming under conservation ownership, it’s Kiesling. He teamed up with personal and professional acquaintance Bob Anderson, the founding executive director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and by around 1985, they had outlined a vision of consolidating railroad lands, “creating a contiguous, continuous block of public land from Bozeman down to Yellowstone.”
They called it the Second Century Project, a name with meaning: If the “first century” was when the railroad land grants were issued, the “second century” would blueprint the next iteration for these spliced lands.
“Co-mingled like this, where the corporations own every other section mixed in with public land every other section, it’s unmanageable for both, so let’s figure out ways to move things around the map here like chess pieces,” Kiesling said. “Let’s figure out how to block up public lands where it’s most important to do so, and figure out how to get the corporations out of these highly important wild lands and into other places where they can make an economic return more sensibly.”
Just as they were setting pieces, the team fell apart. Anderson was ousted from GYC and Kiesling wasn’t able to shoulder the Second Century Project on his own. With the arrival of The Nature Conservancy’s new president, Brian Khan, Kiesling was also feeling a dramatic shift that ultimately led to his departure.
By the end of the century, Plum Creek closed its mill in the Gallatin Valley, shuttering local timber production, and murmurings of a massive land sale increased in volume. This time, it drew the attention of Michael Scott.
“There were quiet discussions that went on,” Scott recalled. Scott was GYC’s first program director for six years before he served as their executive director between 2001 and 2008. With fresh staff, GYC,
The Nature Conservancy and the Wilderness Society partnered to create a vision to transfer the roadless lands to the Forest Service through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This included Porcupine Creek in the Gallatin’s Wilderness Study Area, which was rumored to soon become a massive luxury golf course development. The portions with roads would continue to be managed for timber production. Plum Creek’s shut-down mill would be converted into a value-added mill, producing building materials for the developing Gallatin Valley.
“The idea there was to protect the best of what was there and manage the rest in a more sustainable way with less impact on the ground, but maintain the mill in a way that could still produce jobs in the Belgrade area,” Scott paused the same way Kiesling had when he moved into the demise chapter of his vision.
“That all blew up for a variety of personal reasons,” he said.
It wasn’t a matter of cash, explained Scott. “It came down to personality differences,” he said. The personalities being TNC’s new figurehead, Khan, and Charlie Grenier, Plum Creek’s executive vice president, and a prominent figurehead in the West’s timber industry for over a decade.
“The rumors at the time were that it came apart from conflict between the negotiators, as opposed to conflict over what the price of the deal would be,” Scott said.
Enter Blixseth in his helicopter, a character quite unlike any this effort had yet seen. Blixseth—and the many stories written about him—tend to chart the timeline of his life by monetary ups and downs: He grew up on welfare in the logging community of Roseburg, Oregon; as a kid he sold three donkeys at a $150 profit after rebranding them as pack mules; he made his first $1 million with an investment in Crown Pacific; he founded the Yellowstone Club with a pickup truck and a hammer. By 1988 his endeavors included a string of defaulted timber sales and bankrupt business ventures. Still, Blixseth’s aptitude for recognizing opportunity was sharp, and it felt fitting that a man with a lifetime of land jiggering under his belt would successfully consolidate the Gallatins where others had struggled.
“I would say that I had to look at things that aren’t, and try to envision what they could be,” Blixseth said.
In 1992, Blixseth’s Big Sky Lumber bought the 146,000 acres of checkerboard squares in the Gallatin, Madison and Bridger ranges, as well as Plum Creek’s sawmill, for $27.5 million, turning a page that had been stuck for decades.
Serendipity
“I never had a vision of Yellowstone Club,” Blixseth said. “When we first bought the property, there was roughly 15,000 acres surrounding a major ski resort, Big Sky. And I just felt that the 15,000 acres had to be worth more than just cutover timber land.”
The Yellowstone Club, an elite mountain haven for the wealthy, broke ground in 1997. The club filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Blixseth left while facing a divorce and legal trouble, some of which ended in jail time for the former timber baron. In 2009, the club was purchased by Boston’s CrossHarbor Capital Partners.
Today, behind a security checkpoint lies 2,900 acres of private skiing, a 28,000-square-foot golf course, 40 miles of private hiking and mountain bike trails, fine dining and countless multi-million-
dollar condos and homes. The neighboring Spanish Peaks Mountain Club and Moonlight Basin, also constructed on former Big Sky Lumber land, have taken a similar form. In January 2025, picking up the same tools Blixseth used, the Yellowstone Club exchanged 6,110 acres of private land for 3,855 acres of Custer Gallatin National Forest land in the Crazy Mountains and Madison Range. While both celebrated and criticized, this recent action echoes one thing from Blixseth's trade: sweeping impact.
“Do I think it’s good for the community?” Blixseth said of the Yellowstone Club. “I think it’s provided a tremendous amount of jobs. It’s certainly driven real estate values through the roof. The negative? It’s probably priced a lot of the locals out of the Big Sky market, and it’s probably increased traffic a lot,” Blixseth paused, a smile clear even over the phone. “And there’s probably more egos per square inch than should be.”
Today, Blixseth’s passion is writing music. He speaks enthusiastically about “Heart of America,” the song he wrote in 2005 for the Today show’s Hurricane Katrina benefit and how in a year, it raised $147 million. This fall, the band Cycamore gave it new life, a revitalization Blixseth is happy to see.
“After you die, if you write a song that’s a hit song that people will play 50 years from now, that’s more satisfying to me,” Blixseth said. “If you make a billion dollars, as soon as you die they don’t put your name on all those billion dollars.”
Blixseth leaves behind another legacy through his role in the land swap story, a narrative that has chapters yet to be written. While the consolidation accomplished in the ’90s set a playable board, today’s interested parties (still many of those same conservation groups) have yet to decide what game will be played there. The land is consolidated, yet as a Wilderness Study Area it lacks permanent protection, and the need for such is increasing.
That “tremendous demand” to buy a piece of Montana wilderness Blixseth observed in the ’90s has only grown as attention on Montana magnifies. This isn’t lost on the conservation world.
The Gallatin Forest Partnership, represented by GYC, The Wilderness Society and others, launched a proposal in June 2024 that would protect 250,000 acres across the Madison and Gallatin ranges, but at this stage, it remains a debated proposal.
“There’s a reason this final designation of the Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn has not been resolved,” Dennee said. “It’s because of the strong different interests in how best to manage that landscape.”
While he comments that the partnership’s proposal is “a compromised solution,” Dennee, who still works as a part-time consultant with the Forest Service, offers the reminder that altering the fate of a massive piece of ecosystem is not like switching on a light. The work is incremental.
“It takes incredible patience and persistence and time and effort to put together land agreements of this scale. It’s not done easily,” Dennee said. “And I feel like looking back, I was in the right place at the right time.”
Blixseth too, believes in serendipity.
“I think there’s a reason for just about everything,” he said.
Mira Brody is an avid explorer of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s open landscapes, and the VP of Media at Outlaw Partners.
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TBD TIMBERLOFT DRIVE
Big Sky
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